Police Unamused by Prankster’s Terrorism Joke
A 53-year-old woman turned herself in to police after a bomb squad blew up a ticking package she had left outside a friend’s house as a practical joke.
The package, which contained a clock, had a German postmark.
The FBI on Dec. 23 issued a warning about possible mail bombs being sent from Frankfurt, Germany, to U.S. addresses. FBI spokesman Barry P. Babler said there have been several reports of suspicious packages from Germany since the warning was issued, but none contained explosive devices.
The family called police Thursday after finding the package, saying they didn’t know anyone from Germany. After police officers heard the package ticking, they called in the bomb squad, which destroyed it, Cudahy Police Lt. Stan Kay said.
The woman told police the package was just part of a series of practical jokes between her and the family and that she didn’t mean any harm, Kay said. He did not know whether she knew of the FBI warning about German packages.
The woman is scheduled to meet Jan. 5 with Milwaukee County prosecutors, who will decide whether to charge her, Kay said.
“In this day and age where security measures are heightened, to do this type of joke is unbelievable,” Kay said.
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